Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal Prediction & Picks - UFC Fight Night
MMA - UFC Fight Night
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by Bill Christy | in MMA Picks
The UFC Fight Night card will be headlined by two fighters who currently rank inside the top 10 of the Featherweight division. Aljamain Sterling (25-5-0) will take on Youssef Zalal (18-5-1) in a fight that features two of the best grapplers in the division.
Sterling saw his career skyrocket in 2021-2023. He was on a 5-fight win streak when he won the belt from Petr Yan due to an illegal Yan kick. He then defended that title against Yan, TJ Dillashaw. And Henry Cejudo successfully. However, he ran into Sean O'Malley in his 4th defense and was finished. He bounced back against Calvin Kattar but then subsequently lost to Movsar Evloev. He is coming off a solid unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega, but Ortega is an elder statesman, similar to Cejudo, and that is not similar to his opponent in this fight.
Youssef Zalal has 18 wins in his career at just 29 years of age. He has yet to lose a fight since joining the UFC and has skyrocketed to 7th in the featherweight rankings. In his 5 fights in this 2nd stint in the UFC, Zalal has picked up submission victories in all but one. That came against a common opponent of Sterling in Calvin Kattar. In that fight, Zalal was forced to fight standing up, as all 8 of his takedown attempts were stopped.
Neither of these fighters is likely to feel that they have an advantage on the ground. They both know each other can slip in submissions from any position. This fight could uncharacteristically end up with more stand-up fighting and go longer than some may expect.
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Aljamain Sterling - Youssef Zalal Key Points
- Sterling has had 17 of his 30 career fights go to decision.We are expecting a drawn out feeling out process between these two fighters. Neither fighter is known for their knockout ability and each will be careful with their takedown attempts. If Zalal was a heavy favorite, we would think this one could end early. However, the oddsmakers are giving Sterling a good shot at just over even money. Sterling’s path to success is going to be dragging Zalal deep into the late rounds.
- Sterling has had his last 3 fights all go to decision.
- Zalal has had 8 of his 12 UFC fights go to decision.
- Zalal and Sterling both went the distance with Clavin Kattar recently.
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Our Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal Prediction
We are expecting a drawn-out feeling-out process between these two fighters. Neither fighter is known for their knockout ability, and each will be careful with their takedown attempts. If Zalal were a heavy favorite, we would think this one could end early. However, the oddsmakers are giving Sterling a good shot at just over even money. Sterling's path to success is going to drag Zalal deep into the late rounds.
Our prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal: Over 4.5 Rounds
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
